History of TAMUG

Celebrating over fifty years, Texas A&M University at Galveston serves as the “ocean oriented campus” of Texas A&M University. The campus offers a unique blend of marine and maritime programs, including majors in science, business, engineering, and transportation.

The atmosphere fostered by the faculty, staff, and students emphasizes the intimate relationship between the university and the sea.

TAMUG is a branch campus of Texas A&M University. Graduates receive the Aggie Ring and a Texas A&M University diploma. TAMUG is home to the Texas A&M Maritime Academy: the only maritime academy located on the Gulf Coast.

In the late 1950s two Galveston marine biologists, Dr. Albert Collier and Dr. Sammy Ray pioneered the Galveston Marine Laboratory, conducting scientific research in oceanography and marine biology at the former Army barracks of Fort Crockett.

In 1965, the United States Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration provided a training ship for Texas Maritime Academy cadets. The the U.S. Navy ship, USS Queens, was renamed the Texas Clipper.

While training cadets to become officers in the Merchant Marine of the United States, TMA training vessels are operated by the State of Texas under the jurisdiction of MARAD and considered public vessels. Subsequent training ships replacing the Texas Clipper included the 393-foot USN Chauvenet, which was renamed TEXAS CLIPPER II. Then in 2005, the TEXAS CLIPPER II was replaced with the former USNS Sirius and later in 2009 with the former SS Cape Gibson.

Today the TS General Rudder takes the cadets to sea. She was named in honor of General Earl Rudder, leader of the Army Rangers on D-Day at Normandy. Later as president of Texas A&M University, President Rudder was instrumental in the founding of the maritime academy.

TAMUG Timeline

1931

Statute passed by Texas state Legislature that “interested citizens” could establish “in one of the harbors of the State of Texas a Nautical School…”

1952

The Marine Laboratory established.

1957

Marine Laboratory of the oceanography department of Texas A&M College authorized to move to a surplus building on Fort Crockett.

1958

Annual banquet held in Galveston to celebrate National Maritime Day. Committee established to help create a state maritime academy.

1959

Committee confronted with first major challenge: a 28-year-old legislative obstacle to creating a maritime school in Texas.

1961

State funds for the Texas Maritime Academy appropriated.

1962

The Texas Maritime Academy cadets started their first semester ever.

1963

The dedication of Fort Crockett campus postponed because of the assassination of President Kennedy.

One of the things Sea Aggies are known for—much like their land-locked counterparts in College Station—are their adherence and loyalty to Aggie traditions. Sea Aggies take part in all the time-honored Aggie traditions like Big Event, the Aggie Ring, Elephant Walk, Howdy, Muster and the 12th Man, but they also have their own traditions: Maritime Ball, The Anchor, SALT Camp, Texas Clipper Training vessel.

Celebrating 50 years of Sea Aggies

The university’s and maritime academy’s students, professors, scientific findings and the maritime academy’s merchant marine officers, naval officers and reputation continues to grow, passing regional, state and national boundaries. TAMUG professors tend to agree that in a short 50 years, the little university on the coast that no one thought would make it has been part of discoveries and people who have changed the world.